DELAWARE STATE SENATE

140th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 24

COMMENDING RETIRING MINORITY WHIP MYRNA L. BAIR ON HER TWENTY YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE AND EXTENDING TO HER THE SINCERE THANKS AND VERY BEST WISHES OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE SENATE.

WHEREAS, the Honorable Myrna L. Bair is preparing to end her career as Senator of the 5^th District upon the completion of her present term of office on the Seventh Day of November, A.D. 2000; and

WHEREAS, the said Myrna L. Bair served as State Senator of the 6^th District from 1980 to 1982 and then served the 5^th district, Foulk Woods, from 1982 to present; and

WHEREAS, for twenty years she represented her constituents with unsurpassed dedication; and

WHEREAS, with her motto that "government should make sense", her numerous accomplishments have served the citizens of Delaware well; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bair’s exemplary leadership is validated by her fourteen years of service as Senate Minority Leader and by the most recent two years as Senate Minority Whip; and

WHEREAS, she was a member of the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures, elected by her peers to their national governing body; and

WHEREAS, she served as chairperson of the Economic and Cultural Development Committee, Assembly on State Issues, National Conference of State Legislatures; and

WHEREAS, she was elected President of the Women’s Network, a national organization of women legislators affiliated with the National Conference of State Legislators; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bair has been an integral force in the creation of two of Delaware’s most significant child welfare entities: the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families, and most recently, the Office of the Child Advocate; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families granted Senator Bair the 1995 Village Award "in recognition of her vision and leadership in the Delaware legislature that led to the creation of the office of Prevention and support for our State’s children, youth and their families"; and

WHEREAS, the Delaware State Bar Association recognized Senator Bair with the Distinguished Legislative Service Award "in appreciation for distinguished and invaluable legislative service rendered to the citizens of Delaware"; and

WHEREAS, Grassroots Citizens for Children honored Senator Bair with the 1999 Ron Fioravanti Award, recognizing "her unwavering commitment and dedication to raising the standard of protection for Delaware’s children"; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bair was honored by the Foster Parents of Delaware in appreciation for her support of Foster Family Care in Delaware; and

WHEREAS, The Girl Scouts recognized Senator Bair for her "contributions in the World of Today and Tomorrow"; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bair also received the Emily P. Bissell Award for commitment to public health in Delaware; and

WHEREAS, the Junior League of Wilmington presented Senator Bair with "The Presidents Award, in appreciation of her generous support of the organization"; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bair has contributed to the professionalization of legislative staff in the Senate and in the central staff agencies in the areas of research and finance; and

WHEREAS, she is a key player in the Legislative Fellows program in partnership with the University of Delaware, as well as a promoter of other internship programs including the international Muskie Fellows program and encourages those students to work in the legislature and state and local government; and

WHEREAS, she is Director of the Women’s Leadership Development Program, Institute for Public Administration, College of Human Resources, Education, and Public Policy, University of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, the Women’s Leadership Development program was awarded the prestigious Trabant Award for service to women at the University of Delaware; and

WHEREAS, as a founding member and President of the Women’s Leadership Center, Senator Bair helped to develop programs for women in the business sector, high school girls, and Girl Scouts; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bair has contributed to the community admirably through serving as founder and President of the Delaware Chapter of the International Women’s Forum; founder and President of the Women’s Leadership Center, Inc.; Advisory Board Member of the New Castle County YWCA; member of the American Association of University Women; Board of Directors, Delaware Lung Association; Board of Trustees, Wesley College; member, Community Services Committee for the American Chemical Society; member, Business and Professional Women; President, Vice President and member of Delawareans for Energy Conservation; member and State Energy Chairperson of the League of Women Voters; Chairperson, Education Task Force, Governor’s Energy Resource Management Commission; member WILMAPCO Summit Nuclear Generating Station Review Committee and resource person for the Citizens Advisory Committee; and

WHEREAS, Senator Bair was a primary force behind the renovations and expansion of Legislative Hall, specifically with the building of the "Wings," which help make the state capitol a functional space for the 21^st century to assert the work of the General Assembly as an equal branch of government, and to enable greater access and participation by the public in the legislative process.

NOW THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the members of the Senate of the 140^th General Assembly of the State of Delaware that we hereby commend Senator Myrna L. Bair on her twenty years of dedicated service and extend to her our sincere thanks and very best wishes.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitably prepared copy of this Resolution be presented upon its passage to our distinguished colleague, Senator Myrna L. Bair.